Instrument Choice

[Chuck Tuba]

Hi,
I have a friend who's looking to start studying music in college but he is adamant about getting an instrument before he starts. What suggestions does the community have about selecting an instrument? His limit is about $3000 and I have already suggested a Miraclone but I need to get some other ideas.

Anything will help!

[rodgeman]

I returned to tuba playing. I would suggest a used Mirphone 186 in either CC or BBb. On ebay there are some of these. Also listed here. A 186 CC would be possible in their price range.

What does their private or college professor recommend?

[Tubacube]

Nowadays, 3 grand doesn't go as far as it used to. For this day and age, you should budget yourself 5-7 grand for your first serious tuba to major on. On the other hand there are some bargains to be had on the used tuba front. May the force be with you!

[ghmerrill]

If I were in this situation I would look either for one of the Chinese compensating Eb horns or for one of the used Conn/Olds/Reynolds/whatever horns, or a King if you could find one. If the feeling is that you NEED a CC, then that's a different issue, and probably a (used) 186 or a 186 clone would be the best choice. It's not clear from what you post that your friend intends to pursue a music major or just to "study music" in college. If the former, then buying any instrument prior to consulting his anticipated teachers is not a good idea. It sounds as though your friend has made some sort of a priori decision without really investigating what would be the best thing to do. Not wise.

[eupher61]

A kid in HS, going into college soon, doesn't need an Eb.

[ghmerrill]

A kid in HS, going into college soon, doesn't need an Eb.

Depends on his specific plans, don't you think?

[Donn]

A kid in HS, going into college soon, doesn't need an Eb.

Depends on his specific plans, don't you think?

Well, no, not really. Maybe high school kids have changed since I was there, but basically, their plans tend to have some weak points and most of them even know it. That's why we're here, to hand out free advice to people who have $3K to blow and don't have the vaguest notion what they want. "186". If the kid were qualified to have a plan, he'd be qualified to buy the tuba on his own without our advice.

[opus37]

As an Eb player, I agree that the vast majority of High School students should not get an Eb. I would suggest a BBb. A BBb will fit what most High School Band teachers are prepared to handle. (If this kid had a teacher who could give good tuba advice we wouldn't have this thread). I think an Eb is a wonderful horn and can do it all. I don't think I'd start someone on it without a lot of good advice from someone who knows this student and knows tuba.

[Donn]

Money can be spent but once.

I suppose there is potential resale value to consider.

[ShoelessWes]

A kid in HS, going into college soon, doesn't need an Eb.

Generalize, much?

[ghmerrill]

Still not clear on what the student's situation is. The assumption here seems to be that "start studying music in college" means "major in music" along with the assumption that the student has already studied music to some degree. This may be a correct assumption, but certainly the "start studying" part seems a bit of an odd way to put the question then. There are certainly a couple of ways to "start studying" something in college without majoring in it or even minoring in it. I had a good friend who could have been said to be "studying horn" in college since every semester she took lessons and played for juries and such at Eastman. But she was not a music major or music minor, and other than the lessons was not even enrolled at Eastman (but rather at Rochester). I have known others who first learned to play in college and played in one or another college band or orchestra -- in colleges that didn't even have degree programs in music. All of these circumstances count as "studying music in college" but have nowhere near the requirements that would be imposed on a music major. If this student has $3,000 to burn on "starting" to study music in college, but needs to solicit advice from someone other than his teacher -- if he has a teacher -- (or some professional his teacher knows, or some faculty on the college he will be attending), then surely he would be better served by waiting until he can get advice from the college in question. Unless he's just got $3,000 he wants to spend on starting a hobby in college -- which is way more than I ever had. I guess the $3,000 may imply that he intends on a major, but then the whole situation of not having any idea of how to approach choosing the correct instrument besides soliciting advice from someone other than those he'll be studying with seems pretty goofy.

[pgym]

A kid in HS, going into college soon, doesn't need an Eb.

Depends on his specific plans, don't you think?

Well, no, not really.

Au contraire, mon frère. If the specific plan is to play in a either a college-sponsored or a town and gown community British brass band (or a Salvation Army band) that doesn't own any Ebs and the only openings are for Eb bass, then an Eb would be indeed be necessary.

(Hey, it could be the case. Not likely, mind you, but it could happen.)

[iiipopes]

Au contraire, mon frère. If the specific plan is to play in a either a college-sponsored or a town and gown community British brass band (or a Salvation Army band) that doesn't own any Ebs and the only openings are for Eb bass, then an Eb would be indeed be necessary.
(Hey, it could be the case. Not likely, mind you, but it could happen.)

If we started elementary band tuba players on Eb tubas like we used to, there is a chance that would have been my primary instrument from the beginning.

[TubaRay]

Obviously I dunno what instruments his future school owns, but I would GUESS that $3K would not buy this person anything better than what the school would offer to issue to them.

Yup!

[TubaRay]

(Hey, it could be the case. Not likely, mind you, but it could happen.)

Just like the proverbial tuba player walking past a bar, is it not?

[Chuck Tuba]

My other post did not go through as I had thought. He wants to pursue a degree in music ed, and he is currently attending college. His concern is getting into a music program and he feels that he needs his own instrument to do so. My suggestion was to use a school instrument, our institution has 1 MW CC and another MW or King CC. He feels that having a tuba is a must, which is why he is set on that notion. He is not very knowledgeable about horn cost or types of horns and was led the wrong direction by someone. He seems to think that a horn for a beginner has to fit a particular agenda, so to speak. Also, he has only played on a BBb in high school.

[Lee Stofer]

The young man needs some strong, wise counsel. As a music ed major, a good pre-owned BBb tuba would serve him well. They are available out there, to those who wisely search and persevere. I just sold a really nice King 2341 BBb with Cronkhite bag to a young man this past weekend for $3,000.00, at the Capitol Tuba Conference. And, I know of a very nice Besson Sovereign compensating 3-v. BBb that will soon be available for under $3,000.00.

One does not have to spend beyond their means or buy inferior new equipment. Buying good solid pre-owned instruments is a viable option.